Heatwave, Help Your AC Efficency

The whole country is in the middle of a heatwave and our area is no different. One hundred degree days are becoming the norm with high eighties being a welcome break. These temperatures put a lot of strain on your air conditioning system and can run up your electric bill. There is a lot you can do to keep your system running efficiently, keeping you cool and saving you money.
1) All to often the thermostat is set at 70 for heating and it remains there when the air conditioning is switched on. The recommended temperature for cooling is 75 degrees. 2) It is very important that your air filters are changed regularly, a dirty filter will seriously affect your cooling by reducing the airflow which can cause the system to ice up and fail you give you the temperature drop you expect. 3) Keep bushes cut back eighteen inches from the exterior condenser unit and six feet above the unit. Air flow through the condenser coils is crucial to the system being able to dissipate the unwanted heat from the house and bushes, grasses and flowers reduce the available air flow. 4) The most overlooked issue is a dirty condenser coil. This is the exterior unit, you may need a flashlight to look up into the exterior fins (if your unit has a metal cover). You are not looking down into the unit, you are inspecting the outside of the unit. The coils on the side facing the house are generally the dirtiest. If they are not easily seen and the dust and dirt looks like a wool blanket, turn off the air conditioning, get a garden hose with a sprayer and starting at the top wash the dirt off the coils. This may take you anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour if the unit is really dirty. DO NOT use a pressure washer it will damage the coil.
These are all things you can do which will make your house cooler, more efficient and save you money. Keep cool!